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This Is A Book Xylophone

Posted: 05 May 2011 05:04 AM PDT

Good morning. This is a xylophone made out of books. It’s running on some sort of sequencer connected to little hammers. To ask why this was built would be to ask one too many questions.

via Roger Ebert


Super-Cute Hello Kitty Digital Photo Frame

Posted: 05 May 2011 02:24 AM PDT

Tokyo-based Regulus has just started selling the RDPF-7KIT [JP, PDF] in Japan, a super-cute Hello Kitty digital photo frame. The device comes with a 7-inch LCD with 800×480 resolution, 1W×2 speakers, and interfaces for SDHC/SD cards, USB drives, and Memory Sticks.

The frame is compatible to the following formats: JPEG, BMP, GIF, TIFF, MP3, WMA, MPEG-1, MPEG-4, and Motion JPEG. More importantly, it features not only Hello Kitty on the body but also comes pre-installed with icons, a calendar, a watch and other content showing Hello Kitty.

The RDPF-7KIT is only available in Japan (where it costs $160, cute remote control included).

Ask specialized online shopping services like Rinkya or Flutterscape if you’d like to import one from Japan.

First Full Trailer For Green Lantern Movie Arrives

Posted: 05 May 2011 12:09 AM PDT

Yahoo Movies just released the first theatrical trailer for Green Lantern, the next big-budget super-hero movie that’s based on a DC Comic. The movie is scheduled to hit the US on June 17 (and its trailer looks pretty cool).

Official Synopsis:

In a universe as vast as it is mysterious, a small but powerful force has existed for centuries. Protectors of peace and justice, they are called the Green Lantern Corps. A brotherhood of warriors sworn to keep intergalactic order, each Green Lantern wears a ring that grants him superpowers. But when a new enemy called Parallax threatens to destroy the balance of power in the Universe, their fate and the fate of Earth lie in the hands of their newest recruit, the first human ever selected: Hal Jordan.

Hal is a gifted and cocky test pilot, but the Green Lanterns have little respect for humans, who have never harnessed the infinite powers of the ring before. But Hal is clearly the missing piece to the puzzle, and along with his determination and willpower, he has one thing no member of the Corps has ever had: humanity. With the encouragement of fellow pilot and childhood sweetheart Carol Ferris, if Hal can quickly master his new powers and find the courage to overcome his fears, he may prove to be not only the key to defeating Parallax… he will become the greatest Green Lantern of all.

Here’s the trailer:

Daily Crunch: Morning Routine Edition

Posted: 05 May 2011 12:00 AM PDT

New Nook Incoming? Barnes And Noble Sure Thinks So

Posted: 04 May 2011 06:06 PM PDT

This is a bit odd: I don’t recall anyone leaking any new devices via SEC filings before. I’m know it’s happened in financial reports and so on. But this little document is pretty clear: “In a meeting with investor analysts on May 4, 2011, Barnes & Noble, Inc. (the "Company") indicated it expects to make an announcement on May 24, 2011 regarding the launch of a new eReader device.”

What could it be? Honeycomb? A new E Ink device? Nook Technicolor? We’ll find out on the 24th.

[via WSJ and Engadget]

Fossil Adds A Screen And Bluetooth To Their Handsome Watches

Posted: 04 May 2011 05:53 PM PDT


The smart watch has never, ever succeeded, but that hasn’t stopped Fossil from trying. Remember the Palm watch? That was a great piece of technology.

Anyway, these Meta Watches from Fossil have their own SDK and allow programmers to send data to the watch from a phone. These watches last about seven days on one charge and cost $200. They are, oddly enough, water resistant to 3 ATM and they run the MSP430TM low power processor and a Bluetooth controller to make the magic happen.

Seriously: these will never take off, at least in the watch form factor, but god bless Fossil for trying.

Meta WatchTM offers developers freedom to start their own wrist revolution

Richardson, TX, May 3, 2011 – Meta WatchTM is proud to announce a wearable development system that enables rapid development of ‘connected-watch’ applications. With Meta Watch, developers can quickly and easily extend the interfaces of devices and applications to the wrist. The Meta Watch platforms utilize embedded Bluetooth® technology to connect to smartphones, tablets and other electronics devices. The Meta Watch SDK/API makes it easy for the watch to display information from mobile applications or Internet services. For complete information, visit www.metawatch.org.

Meta Watch platforms are available in analog digital or digital versions, and include: a 3 ATM water resistant stainless steel case; leather strap; mineral glass crystal; vibrating motor; three-axis accelerometer, and ambient light sensor. Optimized for low-power operation, both watch platforms are based on the MSP430TM ultra-low-power microcontroller and CC2560 Bluetooth host controller interface solution from Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI).

“Meta Watch makes our everyday mobile experience much better by enabling us to view important mobile notifications at the right time with virtually no effort”, said Bill Geiser, Vice President Watch Technology, Fossil. “Of course, you can get this information today, but it requires many different steps. Meta Watch simply makes it more convenient and, in the process, it opens the door to new partnerships like we have with TI and a growing network of development partners.”

“TI welcomes the opportunity to work with the Meta Watch team on creating a new channel for the community, and to helping developers push the watch’s capabilities to the next level,” said Eran Sandhaus, Director of marketing, wireless connectivity solutions, TI. “TI’s MSP430 ultra-low-power microcontroller and CC2560 Bluetooth host controller interface provide a solid foundation for the next- generation, connected devices based on the Meta Watch’s sleek form factor. We look forward to seeing the Meta Watch community flourish with ideas for wearable technology that will spark new consumer experiences for years to come.”

via Engadget


New Smallest Camera In The World Is .01mm Smaller Than The Last One

Posted: 04 May 2011 05:07 PM PDT

Less than a month ago, we posted that microscopic camera from Awaiba and Fraunhofer, which qualified as the smallest video camera in the world at just one cubic millimeter. Well, easy come, easy go!

This new one from Medigus is ever so slightly smaller, at .99mm in diameter. It’s slightly lower-resolution (around 212×212) but when you’re putting cameras into blood vessels and such, every micrometer is important.

Will you ever see one? Eh, let’s hope not.

[via CNET]

WickedLasers Proves It Has A Short Memory With The Double-Handed Sith Laser

Posted: 04 May 2011 04:49 PM PDT

Remember when Lucasfilm sued WickedLasers for using Star Wars imagery in their marketing language? Remember how they got a C&D? Well WickedLasers is doing it again with this wild, double-headed “Sith Lord” blue laser and I’m not sure George will be as understanding this time.

The laser costs $599 and sticks two units together for extra laser fun. You can pull them apart to play with them individually or swing them around like a goofball and burn everyone’s retinas. Either way it’s a win-win. The unit maxes out at 2000mW and, as Wickedlasers notes, “2W of laser power aimed in polar opposite directions” is extremely dangerous.

High powered handheld laser features a second beam of intense power.
Use individually to fire a laser that reaches beyond the stars or connect them for a bipolar beam.
Use separately or secure each 1W Spyder 3 together via the Spyder interconnector to operate as a double bladed laser.
Dual Smartswitch safety technology prevents unauthorized access.

Product Page


Stovetop Espresso Goes To The Dark Side

Posted: 04 May 2011 04:43 PM PDT

I was perusing NotCot’s roundup of non-electric coffee gear and spotted Darth Stovetop here. I talked about this old-school method of making espresso here (delicious and difficult), but in case you like your coffee and your coffee-maker black, this one from Valira might be right up your alley.

At €36.50 it’s rather more than its Bialetti equivalent, and replacement parts might be hard to come by, but as the Emperor might say, that’s the price you pay for power.

What are you waiting for? Ajouter au panier!

Radiator Uses “Quantum Glass” To Heat Your Home

Posted: 04 May 2011 04:10 PM PDT


Those of us in cooler climates are familiar with the common hot-water radiator. It’s old-school, but it works. 5.5 Designers have decided they’re too good for wrought iron and steam (or rather their client Saazs has), and have instead put together this insane device, which uses a special coating (creating what they almost certainly mis-describe as “quantum glass”) to radiate infrared radiation whenever it’s given a current. That’s heat, my friend.

Oh, the sticks? Those are to prevent you from kicking it by accident and spraying hot glass all over the place.

[via Fast Co. Design and Geeky Gadgets]

Hearst Publications Come To iTunes: $2 Per Month, $20 Per Year

Posted: 04 May 2011 04:01 PM PDT

Now we’re getting somewhere. Just last week I posted how Conde Nast was taking a break from pushing its tablet editions due to… well, an inability to sell them. I’ve always felt that these companies need to let go of big profits per consumer and focus on the high-volume, low-price angle. It looks like Hearst is doing that to some extent, having just agreed to offer its magazines on a subscription basis through the iTunes store.

At $2/month or $20/year, the titles are comparable to yearly print subscription costs. Esquire, Popular Mechanics, and O will be the initial offerings, though more are surely in the works. This makes Hearst the first major publisher to go under the Apple subscription yoke, which many have already bucked at. But as people don’t seem to like having to purchase each issue separately, and volume is all-important for publishing, Hearst decided this was the right move.

Will Hearst be the first of many? Will Conde Nast and others wait and see, or hasten to join for fear of losing potential readers? Find out next time on When Publishers Agree.

E Ink Shows Off More Flexible, Crunchable Screens

Posted: 04 May 2011 03:29 PM PDT


It seems like everybody and their dog is trying to get a flexible display out there. TDK, Sony, LG, HP, and most recently Bridgestone are all going nuts trying to make this happen. E Ink is no exception, and although they’re not planning on putting out a successor to their Pearl screen this year, they aren’t standing still, either.

The Digital Reader managed to wangle a few demo videos of cutting-edge E Ink tech at an event a couple weeks ago. Here’s E Ink displays using cloth and Tyvek material as bases:


Although E Ink is the market leader, it’s wide open to disruption. The companies mentioned above have their own projects, and academics are getting into the game, too.

[via Engadget]

Seagate Teases “Perfect Companion” For Tablets

Posted: 04 May 2011 01:47 PM PDT

Seagate is toying with us, saying they’re going to release this month the “perfect companion” for iPads and other tablets. Being that they’re a storage company and tablets lack serious storage space, I’m guessing it’s a tablet-oriented storage and backup solution, perhaps focusing on mobility and anywhere-accessibility. Perhaps via a browser client?

Nobody knows, though Reg Hardware is making a few guesses. We’ll keep our eyes open.

Yahtzee Reviews Portal 2

Posted: 04 May 2011 12:54 PM PDT

If you’re like Devin and haven’t finished Portal 2, don’t watch this review. There are no spoilers but I know you’ll scream at me if he ruins anything for you.

Sony Knew About The Break-Ins For Six Days Before Coming Clean

Posted: 04 May 2011 12:39 PM PDT


As Joel at Kotaku points out, Sony learned about the network break-ins on about April 20 and did nothing to alert customers until the 26th, a move that points to a great deal of hubris and foolhardy bravado on Sony’s part. Joel followed the trail from beginning to end, noting that Sony learned that something was amiss when servers began rebooting without intervention on the 19th. After examining the machines for a full seven days, Sony finally alerted “regulatory authorities in New Jersey, Maryland, and New Hampshire.”

What’s wrong with that picture? Well, on the 22nd Sony informed the world that nothing was amiss and then, once the true scope of the damage was made clear, waited four more days to warn users that their data had been compromised. While one can agree with the statement that Sony may have not known what was up until, say, the first few forensics teams began to make their assessments, this does not excuse the company from ignoring the obvious dangers and putting users at risk.

Sony went through a lot headache here and it is not clear whether PSN users have suffered monetary losses yet from the hack. However, by sitting on the news for so long Sony management made it clear that saving face is more important than saving personal data. Six days is a long time. A little advance warning could have given all PSN members a moment to cancel their credit cards and to check their accounts for untoward activity. Instead, they had to wait, in the dark, until Sony saw fit to inform the world.

Check out Joel’s post and Ross Miller’s great tick-tock here.

Intel’s 3D Transistors Promise Small Physical And Electrical Footprint

Posted: 04 May 2011 12:22 PM PDT


Intel has made an interesting advance in microprocessor technology after years of research, and it seems that 2011′s processors will be the first to feature 3D transistors and tri-gate technology. By optimizing the shape of the transistor at a nanometer level, Intel has made it possible to both reduce the size of individual transistors and improve their efficiency.

Now, it’s important to differentiate this 3D method from others under investigation, like IBM’s. This isn’t a multi-layer solution, merely a more complicated shape for the single layer of transistors we know and love. I say merely, but of course sculpting things at a near-atomic level is no joke. So what exactly is the advance here, and what will it enable?

If you’d rather not read, check out the video above. It does a good job of explaining, though there’s a bit of preamble you can skip.

Essentially, what’s happened is this: Intel has used nano-scale architecture to move the conductive electron layer actually inside the metal component of the gate, in which the insulating layer is embedded.This illustration from their announcement deck shows it well, and the following picture is the progression of the fabrication process:


Surrounding the electron flow on three sides, as opposed to just one, allows for improvements in just about every aspect of the transistor. Intel claims a 50% power use reduction when under load, and a 37% performance increase at low voltage, presumably from the increased rate at which these gates can open or close.

This is quite a serious leap for Intel, and immediately puts AMD further into peril, since low-power combos like Fusion have been its biggest advantage of late. It still has the lead in graphics (Intel isn’t even competitive there), but this major boost in efficiency by Intel could put them in danger on their home turf, things like all-in-ones and ultraportable laptops.

And what about ARM? This advance probably won’t hurt them. A more efficient x86 architecture is still an x86 architecture, and right now ARM is so prevalent in the portable computing market (mobile, tablet, embedded) that even a large bump to Intel’s prospects like this would take years to propagate, during which time competitors like Nvidia (Intel co-nemesis) will continue to throw in with the non-x86 option. That said, Android is perhaps the most likely to break from the pack, but that depends entirely on manufacturers, not Google, ARM, or Intel.

Intel’s roadmap for the 22nm process first mentioned Ivy Bridge, the shrink-down of current Sandy Bridge Core processors. And then there’s the low-power segment, with “Future” entrants into the various portable segments of the market. The recently-released Oak Trail generation of Atom processors will be succeeded by Clover Trail before the 22nm shift, but it’s possible they could still make it happen in mid-2012. And Intel is so marginalized in smartphone processors that I wouldn’t even hazard a guess as to their strategy there. Actually, I’d say they’ll push the mid-size segment with their low-power stuff, and then try to shrink it — the opposite of Google’s approach with Android.

The processors are due to be manufactured in the second half of 2011, though there’s no information on how or when they’ll be marketed, made available, or integrated with existing product lines.

Whatever the case, this new tech is exciting and fascinating, and I look forward to the new devices and components it enables. Nano-scale research is worth reading about no matter who’s doing it, or to what end.

Standalone PMA Camera Show Is No More, Now Folded Into CES

Posted: 04 May 2011 11:56 AM PDT

PMA – a camera trade show recently renamed CliQ – is being folded in alongside CES this year, a move that almost definitely spells the end of another major standalone tech event. The event was slated to take place September 6-11, 2011 but will now happen around January 10-13 in Las Vegas. There is no confirmation whether CliQ will be a formal part of CES or exist as a standalone but simultaneous event. I’m banking on the latter.

While in the past PMA mainly attracted photo retailers from across the country and featured seminars on how to sell more photo gear, CliQ was scheduled to include photography workshops, photo walks, and how-to talks on ways to become a better photographer.

PMA coverage has always been troublesome simply because it often came a few weeks after CES. We actually stopped covering it for a few years because of the proximity.

via PDNPulse


iOS 4.3.3 Released for iPhone, Fixes “Tracking” Bugs

Posted: 04 May 2011 11:39 AM PDT

Just two weeks ago, Apple took a rare hit to their so-called “reality distortion field”. A pair of researchers found a file on the iPhone that seemingly tracked the iPhone owner’s location (based on which cell towers they were connecting to) going back as far as a year. As a few angry mobs gathered their pitchforks (and fired off lawsuits), Apple explained it as an anonymized, “crowd-sourced location database”intended for use with an upcoming traffic feature, and chalked up some of the stranger aspects (namely, how far back it tracked, and that it continued to log locations even after the user manually disabled location services) as bugs.

Read the rest at MobileCrunch >>

Contest: Away Put Your Weapon, I Mean You To Win A Star Wars Prize

Posted: 04 May 2011 11:19 AM PDT

It is May 4th aka Force Day. On this day we must celebrate the cultural phenomenon that is Star Wars. How better to do that than by picking one item from a huge list of Star Wars stuff and having it sent to your home. Your mission, then, is to choose one item and I will pick one winner at random and that winner will receive the item he or she chose. The result? He or she will, as Han Solo once said, “live long and prosper.”

How do you win? Go here. Pick one item. Mention it in a comment and add a little bit about why it is important to you. Be sure to include your email. I will pick one winner at random tomorrow at noon Eastern. Enter only once. Choose only one item. May the schwartz be with you.

Thanks to ThinkGeek for the post excellent prize.

Wal-Mart Gives Kindles To Teens In Need

Posted: 04 May 2011 10:38 AM PDT

When not destroying the heartland and ripping down the fabric of small town America, Wal-Mart likes to give back to the community. For example, the Arkansas Boys and Girls Club of America, got a $10,000 grant from the giant to buy books, magazines, and most notably, Kindles.

There will be 50 Junior High and High School children involved in Bright Spot. This reading center will contain not only books, but also other forms of literature. Magazines, Kindles, and music will be available for the children to enjoy and read. This program encourages teens to continue reading in their everyday life.

"The Walmart Foundation's Bright Spot for Reading Initiative is essential in preparing youth for academic and life success," continued Shelby Kriz, Director of Education, "We are grateful to The Walmart Foundation for the opportunity to create an environment that will encourage and allow our youth to enjoy and develop an affinity for reading."

Why is this interesting? Well, it marks one of the first moves by a learning organization to focus on ebooks rather than standard dead-tree titles. The words “magazines, Kindles, and music” should send a bolt of icy fear through the hearts of publishers as they come to realize that yes, it’s finally happened: kids will no longer want to pull hardback off the shelf of their local library or teen center when they have Kindles available for loan.

Obviously the Kindle isn’t replacing the book outright, but given the speed with which it’s encroaching on non-ebook territory I’d say were about half a decade out from the tipping point.

via PR


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